South Dakota State University

Department Head & Professor

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Earned doctorate in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field.
  • Record of achievement in academic leadership, teaching, research, and service as a tenured full professor.
  • Experience in financial management, including budgeting and revenue/expenditure oversight.
  • Background in academic administration or relevant industry experience.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and strategize for the department in alignment with faculty and university administrators.
  • Enhance educational programs, research activities, and community engagement.
  • Oversee curriculum development and accreditation processes.
  • Foster research and funding opportunities for faculty and students.
  • Recruit, mentor, and evaluate faculty and staff.
  • Manage faculty workloads and develop course scheduling.
  • Advocate for departmental needs and allocate resources effectively.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical and dental plans, plus flexible benefits options.
  • Generous retirement plan with 6% matching.
  • Paid holidays and vacation leave, totaling over 90 hours.
  • Access to training and reduced tuition for state-supported courses.
  • Relocation assistance available per university guidelines.
Full Job Description
Posting Details

Posting Details

Logo

Institution
South Dakota State University

Working Title
Department Head & Professor

Posting Number
F01869P

Department
SDSU-Construction & Concrete Industry Management

Physical Location of Position (City)
Brookings

Posting Text

The Department of Construction and Concrete Industry Management at South Dakota State University (SDState) invites applicants for the position of Professor and Department Head. We seek an innovative leader to advance academic programs, grow funded research, and strengthen outreach to stakeholders in the state and region. The individual selected for this role will work with the Dean and the leadership team for the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering (JJLCOE) to promote the land-grant mission while implementing a shared vision with the faculty and staff on strategic initiatives for the department.This position is located inBrookings, South Dakota. This is a 12-month, full-time, benefits-eligible, tenure-track position.

The Department of Construction and Concrete Industry Management is one of five departments in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, serving 1500 undergraduate and graduate students. The 13-faculty-member CCIM Department serves 350 students in its undergraduate programs, which include Construction Management, Concrete Industry Management, and Manufacturing Automation and Electronics Engineering Technology.

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering has benefitted from substantial investment by its stakeholders in the past 15 years, resulting in new buildings, state-of-the-art teaching and research labs, and renovated classrooms. The five academic units are Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction & Concrete Industry Management, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics, and Mechanical Engineering. Engineering Extension, SD LTAP, the EDA University Center, and the Image Processing Lab provide outreach and services to the state and region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:The Department Head of Construction and Concrete Industry Management serves as the academic and administrative leader of the department. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Provide leadership, strategy, and vision for the department and its programs in collaboration with faculty, staff, and other college and university administrators. This role will work towards advancing SDSU's Pathway to Premier strategic plan, including transforming SDSU into R1 Research University by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
  • Advance the department in all components of its mission: education and student advisement, research/creative activities, and industry and community engagement.
  • Supervise curriculum development, assessment, and accreditation activities through program and assessment coordinators and collaboration with faculty.
  • Create a supportive environment for faculty, graduate and undergraduate student research and extramural funding.
  • Recruit, mentor, develop, evaluate, and retain faculty, staff, and students.
  • Manage and assign faculty workload and plan student throughput through the development of course schedules.
  • Advocate for the needs of the department's programs, faculty, students, and staff.
  • Develop and manage departmental budgets and coordinate fundraising efforts.
  • Oversee management and maintenance of departmental facilities and resources.
  • Maintain an active program of teaching, research, and/or scholarship consistent with the rank of Professor for the agreed upon workload percentage, contributing to the department's academic mission.


BENEFITS:SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university's guidelines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Earned doctorate in construction management, Civil engineering, or a closely related field by application date.
  • A record of achievement in academic leadership, teaching, scholarship, research and service commensurate with the performance expectations for a tenured full professor in the department.
  • Financial management experience including revenue, expenditures, and/or budgeting.
  • Experience in academic administration and/or parallel experience in the private industry sector.
  • Effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Professional experience at the middle manager level or higher within the construction or concrete industry management industry.
  • Experience with recruitment, and retention of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds.
  • Understanding of current and emerging trends in the construction and concrete industries as demonstrated by the candidate's knowledge of rapidly changing workforce needs, and the implications on interdisciplinary education and research.
  • Experience implementing administrative policies.
  • Experience building relationships with regional industry leaders which led to collaboration.
  • Experience leading and managing ABET and other programmatic accreditation procedures.


APPLICATION PROCESS:
SDState accepts applications through an on-line employment site. To apply, visit:
https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position title, view the job announcement, and click on "apply for this job." This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, curriculum vitae, and a reference page with the contact information for three professional references. Email applications will not be accepted. Please contact SDState Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.

Posting Date
07/06/2026

Closing Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

First Consideration Date
08/20/2026

Advertised Salary
The salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications, starting at $175,000.

Duration of the Term
12 months

If Other, describe duration

Appointment Percent
100

Tenure Status
Tenure Track

Proposed Rank
Professor

Work Hours

Typical Hours Worked Per Week

Appointment Type
Regular

Scope of Search
External (includes Internal)

If internal, define scope of search

Department Description and Cultural Expectations

SDState is the state's largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities.

Contact Information

For questions on the position, contact search committee chair, Dr. Guanghui Hua at [email protected].

About South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is a public research university located in Brookings, South Dakota. The university was founded in 1881 and has since grown to become the largest university in the state, with over 12,000 students enrolled. South Dakota State University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including agriculture, engineering, nursing, and education. The university is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals.
Learn more about South Dakota State University
Size
13,000 employees
Industry

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